Heidi Banak
H&LA is proud to congratulate our client, Uphoff Ventures, on securing financing and moving forward with the development of Dellshire Resort in Wisconsin Dells. We were pleased to complete the feasibility study for this exciting project, which will bring a new level of high-end, family-focused hospitality to one of the Midwest’s premier tourist destinations.. We
On behalf of the City of Richmond, Texas, H&LA has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified development partners to build a full-service hotel and convention center within the highly visible and rapidly developing River Pointe mixed-use district. Located off Interstate 69 in Fort Bend County, the site offers strong accessibility, regional connectivity, and
Despite some strong headwinds in the hotel industry, speakers at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum painted a cautiously optimistic picture. While average daily rate (ADR) growth is trailing inflation in 2025, occupancy remains relatively steady, which signals underlying resilience in the sector. The following are some key takeaways from the conference that stood out
STR and Tourism Economics have downgraded their U.S. hotel forecast through 2026, citing weaker early 2024 performance and economic pressures. Revised projections show slower growth in ADR and RevPAR, with demand softening among cost-conscious travelers. While luxury hotels remain resilient, overall industry recovery is expected to be moderate amid high interest rates and cautious consumer
Last week, the H&LA team came together for our annual corporate retreat, which presented a great opportunity to connect, learn, and refocus with our awesome staff. This year, we were fortunate to welcome several guest speakers from the hospitality industry who brought fresh insights into hotel operations and waterpark resort design. A big thank you
Great Wolf Lodge has recently adjusted its resort fee structure, reducing or eliminating fees at some locations. This move aligns with broader industry trends toward greater pricing transparency, as consumers and lawmakers increasingly scrutinize hidden fees. Traditionally, resort fees have been a significant source of ancillary revenue for indoor waterpark resorts, covering amenities like Wi-Fi,
The debut of Great Wolf Lodge in Mashantucket marks a major expansion of Connecticut’s growing theme and water park industry. The $300 million indoor resort is expected to draw 500,000 visitors annually, adding new competition for established parks like Quassy and Lake Compounce. Despite this, local operators see the development as a positive sign of
As momentum builds around the proposed new Cleveland Browns stadium, a recent article from ABC’s News 5 Cleveland spotlights growing pushback from the Cleveland Hotel Association. The group is pushing back against a proposed 1% hike in the county’s bed tax, a key funding source for the $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park. With
On behalf of Reeves County, Texas, Hotel & Leisure Advisors invites qualified developers to submit proposals for the development of an approximately 120-room, select-service hotel in Pecos, Texas. The hotel will be adjacent to the county-developed Cyclone Ballparks and the under-development 50,000-square-foot $49 million indoor waterpark. Pecos is the largest community between Odessa and El
The 2024 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando, Florida had a record-breaking attendance of 41,429 attendees and 37,066 verified participants. The IAAPA Expo is the leading annual gathering for the global attractions industry. The 2024 event featured over 1,100 exhibitors, around 27,000 buyers from more than 20,000 purchasing companies, more
Published by: Katie Amrhein, WKRC Published date: October 2024 ERLANGER, Ky. (WKRC) – A new adventure park is coming to Erlanger as city leaders break ground on a project three times the size of Kings Island. The 1000-acre Eons Adventure Park is a large undertaking that spans from CVG Airport across the city of Erlanger
H&LA’s David Sangree and Anthony DiPonio are attending the World Waterpark Association’s Annual Symposium in Las Vegas in October. David and Anthony will be presenting at the WWA University: Waterpark Design, Development, and Expansion Workshop with a session titled: Methodology for Feasibility Studies for Waterparks and
H&LA’s Stephen Szczygiel is attending the 2024 Surf Park Central Summit in San Deigo from September 30 to October 2. Stephen will speak at the event, presenting in a session titled, “Performing a Feasibility Analysis for a Surf Park.” This session will review the steps necessary to determine whether a surf park is feasible in a particular

